The Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011, signed into law last May by Georgia Governor Nathan Deal, cost the state more than $340 million dollars and more than 3,000 jobs, despite assurances from Governor Deal that eliminating illegal labor would create 11,000 new jobs.

The American Civil Liberties Union sued last June to stop the law. On June 27, 2011, a judge granted a stay on two of the most onerous provisions: “Show me your papers,” (requiring any suspected illegal to present documentation) and a provision that made it a felony to knowingly transport an illegal alien.

The “Show me your papers,” provision was upheld by the 11th Circuit Court in Atlanta yesterday. The provision that would make it a felony to knowingly transport an illegal alien will remain on hold.

Charles Hall, executive director, Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed ramifications of this law as part of a panel on immigration reform during the Texas Produce Association annual conference last week in San Antonio.

He said Tuesday that the effect the court’s decision will have on Georgia agriculture and other industries remains to be seen, but last week warned the Texas Produce Association that if the law were upheld the state could be in trouble.

“We are going to have to wait and see what the reaction is with our migrant harvest crew community,” Hall told Farm Press Tuesday. “I have not read the decision yet, so I don’t know the specifics, but I did hear that the person has to be involved in some criminal activity to have papers requested.”

Last week he outlined the problems the law has imposed on Georgia fruit and vegetable producers.

“Georgia should be the poster child for what not to do with E-Verify (Electronic Employment Verification Program) and illegal worker enforcement,” Hall said.

He said Georgia’s enforcement regulations are “similar to Arizona’s, and E-Verify will be mandatory following a two-year phase-in. All employers who have 10 or more workers have to use E-Verify by July 1, 2013,” Hall said.

Hall said even before the 2011 fruit and vegetable harvest got under way reports began coming in about labor shortages. “Harvesters either were not coming in or they were leaving,” he said. “A May survey showed that harvest crews were from 30 percent to 50 percent short.”

He said last June, Governor Deal released a statement saying the newly enacted law would “create 11,000 employment opportunities.” He also suggested use of probationers to take up the slack. “The Department of Corrections did a yeoman’s job of helping,” Hall said. But the labor shortage was not stemmed.

Hall said before the law took effect Georgia’s unemployment rate was 9.6 percent. After the harvest season, the unemployment rate was 9.6 percent. “And about 40 percent of the fruit and vegetable crop was left in the field because of a lack of harvesters,” Hall said.

$180 million farm gate loss

That amounted to a $180 million loss at the farm gate. The multiplier effect across the state’s economy resulted in a $340 million loss of state revenue.

Hall said agriculture lost 1,512 jobs and total job loss was 3,260, including truckers and others who deal with fresh fruit and vegetable processing and transportation.

“The assumption that E-Verify creates jobs by getting illegal workers out of the state is simply not true,” Hall said. “We can’t get domestic workers to pick cucumbers.”

Discuss this Article 1

The overly severe greed of farmers and other business owners is what is threatening the economy. Their refusal to abide by US labor laws and to pay competitive wages is what has destroyed the only thing that creates jobs. That one and only thing that creates jobs is demand. They drive down wages and destroy their own customer base, then whine and cry because of slow sales.